MorningStar Senior Living

A report in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society noted that while falls are extremely common in seniors 65 years of age and older, individuals with Alzheimer’s disease are at an even greater risk. Statistics show that approximately one in three seniors fall each year. The rate is more than doubled in those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, in fact 70% of those with dementia fall at least once each year.

Researchers say there are several reasons for this including gait and balance issues as well as problems concentrating and with staying focused on the task at hand. Another reason for a fall is certain medications that can cause drowsiness. Whatever the reason, falling can be a big problem for seniors who live alone and have cognition issues as they may not have access to help when they need it.

At MorningStar at Bear Creek, our loving assisted living dementia care is designed to address the unique needs of our most tender residents to ensure their safety and comfort. Furthermore, as one of the area’s leading dementia care specialists, our community was designed from the ground up to provide a secure setting, which allows residents to explore their spacious surroundings freely and easily. Our specialized care includes finding ways to connect with and nurture the essence of the individual, and to celebrate and elevate life.

Our community offers 48 secure suites, and includes studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom floor plans. We are also equipped to provide compassionate dementia care from the onset of the disease right through to the most advanced stages. Please visit our website to learn more about MorningStar and all of the amenities and services we provide to residents and their families alike.

MorningStar at Bear Creek brings a unique vision to senior living with our mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. We are dedicated to creating a true home for residents within an ideal setting and invite you to schedule a tour to see the best assisted living dementia care in Colorado Springs. ​Source: alzinfo.org/articles/diagnosis/alzheimers-disease-increases-the-risk-of-falls/

​Looking for Alzheimer homes in the Colorado Springs area? At A Place for Mom’s website, the largest assisted living referral service, they offer tips for touring a senior community. During the tour make sure you think about you or your loved one actually living at the community. Look around and see if you notice a general feeling of uncleanliness and/or unpleasant odors? Do staff members seem friendly and are they making eye contact and appear to be listening to residents?

Be sure to ask about the ratio of staff to residents and what type of training they receive as well as security measures and safety accommodations. Don’t forget to take the time to meet with the management team and ask them about the community’s mission. Its also recommended to eat a meal at the community as it will give you a chance to share leisurely time with the residents. In addition, you get to experience for yourself the community’s cuisine.

We would like to invite you to set up a tour of MorningStar at Bear Creek in order to experience our beautiful, loving community in person. As dementia care specialists, our community is set up to provide care for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other type of dementia from the onset of the disease right through to the most advanced stages. We feel honored to walk alongside and support each resident and their family as they go through this difficult journey.

On our website, you will find a convenient link to schedule a tour or give us a call. As we tailor the tour to your priorities, we recommend you allow at least 45 minutes so you can get a good look at our entire community. We also invite you to join us for lunch (just let us know when you set up your tour). If you do want to join us, please set aside at least 90 minutes.

MorningStar at Bear Creek embodies the very best in Alzheimer homes and dementia care with a distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest”. With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing seniors and investing in a staff with a felt calling to serve, we offer loving, compassionate care within a beautiful home-like setting. Please set up a tour to see for yourself our unique approach to memory care. ​ Source: aplaceformom.com/planning-and-advice/articles/tips-for-touring-assisted-living

As it turns out, not only do we feel that we are one of the area’s finest senior living facilities, but many of our residents and families are glad to tell us they agree! You cannot imagine how gratifying this is for the entire MorningStar of Billings’ team, as we are dedicated to providing residents with all the care and services they need for carefree retirement years.

One of the things we always encourage interested families to do is to schedule a tour with us. We sincerely believe that you cannot experience the loving, warm atmosphere of the Billing’s community without a firsthand view. Therefore to hear the following from a resident’s family member was music to our ears. They write, “I walked into a beautiful and clean community. The tour was fantastic and informative. After touring other facilities in Billings, I felt most comfortable having my parents here at MorningStar!”

We were again reminded of how very proud we are of our loving team as we read the words of another family member who writes that her mother has been a MorningStar resident for over a year and a half. She ends her note by saying, “The quality of her life has improved dramatically. She’s made lots of friends, and is much more active than she was before. I highly recommend MorningStar.”

From the wise words of a resident who sums up the MorningStar of Billings’ experience as “Great apartment, good food, great management, and pleasant residents. A great place to live,” we think it says it all. We invite area families to visit our website to set up a tour or to inquire about pricing and availability. Be sure to ask us about our Lifetime Rate offer in memory care (rent & care included) and a Two-Year Rate Freeze (rent only) offer in assisted living. Both are available for a limited time.

MorningStar Senior Living of Billings represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve in order to provide a true home for residents. We invite you to set up a tour to one of Billings’ foremost senior living facilities. ​

​Experts say it is important to seek the advice of your doctor if memory problems are seriously affecting your life. To determine if you or a loved one has Alzheimer's disease, the Mayo Clinic explains, “doctors conduct tests to assess memory impairment and other thinking skills, judge functional abilities, and identify behavior changes. They also perform a series of tests to rule out other possible causes of impairment.”

During your appointment, the Mayo Clinic says expect to be evaluated on:

Whether you have impaired memory or thinking (cognitive) skills

Whether you exhibit changes in personality or behaviors

The degree of your memory or thinking impairment or changes

How your thinking problems affect your ability to function in daily life

The cause of your symptoms

Tests include neuropsychological tests that are used to access your abstract thinking, problem-solving skills, memory, language usage and other related skills. Your doctor may also schedule braining-imaging tests. While these brain scans are not used to diagnose Alzheimer’s, they can detect other conditions such as hemorrhages, brain tumors or damage from a past stroke. They are also used to establish a baseline in terms of the amount of degeneration seen on the scans.

Your doctor may also talk with your family to learn more about the types of changes they have noticed and how they have affected who you are now. All of the information is then used to rule out other conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, strokes, or depression that may be causing your symptoms.

It is understandable that people are often afraid to go to a doctor once they suspect Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, many people feel that since there is no cure, what is the point? However, doctors stress once you are diagnosed with the disease, you can start getting the proper treatment as well as consider your care options and plans for the future.

This post is intended for informational purposes only. Please contact your health care provider with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health.

MorningStar at Bear Creek brings a unique vision to senior living with our mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. We are dedicated to creating a true home for residents within an ideal setting and invite you to schedule a tour to see the best assisted living dementia care in Colorado Springs.

Looking at Alzheimer homes in the Colorado Springs area? MorningStar at Bear Creek provides loving, compassionate memory care to seniors with mild to advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Through our wellness programs and special activities, we find ways to connect with and nurture the essence of the person each and every day regardless of the level of memory loss.

Life enrichment at Bear Creek includes a wide variety of physical activities designed to keep residents moving and engaged in life. Throughout the week, we have a Sunday Stretch, Monday Movement, Sit & Be Fit, Wednesday Groove, Aerobic Thursday, Friday Fitness, and Saturday Stretch class.

Residents and staff alike enjoy playing games that are both challenging and fun such as Crossword and Word Search, Alphabet Game, Board Game Fun, Puzzles and Bingo. Other types of activities include jewelry making, movie nights, baking club, and arts and crafts time. In addition, local entertainers come in and perform for us a couple of times a week, and residents enjoy scenic drives on a regular basis.

Furthermore, holidays and special occasions are always another reason to celebrate at MorningStar at Bear Creek. For example, our Halloween Family Party included costumes, “spooky” food and lots of visits from family members. From Mother’s and Father’s Day to St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Easter, etc.; our Bear Creek family enjoys celebrating the holidays together.

Please visit our website to learn more about our committed, caring community. We put our energies toward continuing to find ways to celebrate and elevate life, and it is our honor to walk alongside the memory-impaired (and their families) on this unexpected journey.

MorningStar at Bear Creek embodies the very best in Alzheimer homes and dementia care with a distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest”. With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing seniors and investing in a staff with a felt calling to serve, we offer loving, compassionate care within a beautiful home-like setting. Please set up a tour to see for yourself our unique approach to memory care. ​

​Many families know next to nothing about senior living facilities when they first begin to look at the various options available for a loved one. At MorningStar of Billings, we understand it is important to have answers ready for all of the questions and concerns that family members may have regarding our senior living community.

In fact even before you contact us, you can visit our website and browse through the many informative resources we offer. To get a sense of our history, mission and philosophy as well as the type of services we assume both locally and globally, take a few minutes to read through MorningStar’s “Our Heart” links.

To find answers to some of the questions you may have regarding care and services, we encourage you to take a look at our FAQs page. One important question is how our prices are structured. For assisted living residents, monthly rental fees are based on the apartment’s square footage, location within the building, views and suite choices along with the level of care we will provide (based on a thorough assessment with our Wellness Director). Also we offer various auxiliary medical and non-medical services priced a la carte.

Another important resource from MorningStar is our Decision Guide, which is designed to help families decide whether the time is right for Senior Living, particularly Assisted Living. You will find warning signs to look for and advice on how best to broach the subject of making the move to a senior assisted living facility.

Please keep in mind that while it is a great way to familiarize your family with the many care services offered by MorningStar of Billings, our team is more than happy to answer any questions not addressed. As one of the area’s leading senior living facilities, our community has 32 free-standing cottages and 72 bright suites for independent living and 70 assisted living suites. We have 36 secure suites devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.

MorningStar Senior Living of Billings represents the finest in senior living with a unique mission statement of: “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Proving a true home for residents, our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve. We invite you to setup a tour to experience firsthand the loving atmosphere of one of the area’s top senior assisted living facilities.

​According to an article published by the Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience journal from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, social connections may be key to preserving memory. The study, led by Elizabeth Kirby, an assistant professor of behavioral neuroscience at the university, explains their findings influence "a body of research in humans and animals that supports the role of social connections in preserving the mind and improving quality of life.”

The university’s research involved studying a group of mice 15 months to 18 months old, which is the period in a mouse’s life when it starts to have significant memory decay. For three months, some mice lived in pairs while others were housed in groups of seven. The researchers put the mice through a series of trials each day that tested their recognition and memory skills. Consistently the mice housed in larger groups improved their performance on the tests, which researchers believe may suggest they “used their hippocampus, an area of the brain associated with memory.”

The study is important for humans as our hippocampus declines with age as it does in mice and other animals, and helps to identify the impact of social connections on brain health. Kirby says seniors should “think about your living situation as you age.” If you have the privilege of choosing where you live, make the choice that lets you be socially engaged as long as possible."

MorningStar at Bear Creek provides compassionate, loving assisted living dementia care to those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other memory impairment. We recognize the importance of strong social connections and offer an array of wellness programs and activities that encourage social as well as physical, intellectual and spiritual connections. Please see our website for more information about our exceptional community.

MorningStar at Bear Creek brings a unique vision to senior living with our mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. We are dedicated to creating a true home for residents within an ideal setting and invite you to schedule a tour to see the best assisted living dementia care in Colorado Springs.

At MorningStar at Bear Creek, we feel privileged to provide compassionate, loving assisted living dementia care to those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other memory impairment. As dementia care experts, every aspect of our community including our dining service is tailored to our special residents. Mealtimes at Bear Creek are as much about community as they are about the delicious food we serve at each meal, with residents and team members eating together (of course family members are also welcome to join us anytime).

Family style meals allow team members to encourage residents’ appetites as well as to provide any needed assistance with eating. Many of our meals include offering dishes from serving bowls and platters as a way to help residents connect to memories of family meals they have eaten or prepared throughout their lives. In addition, out of respect for some of our residents’ compromised abilities at the table, food is geared toward their needs. Our nutritionally-balanced meals look as good as they taste and include easy-to-eat finger foods as well as texture-modified pureed meat and vegetables.

All of these dishes are prepared with finesse, and many visitors are surprised to discover how good they taste and how elegant they look. At MorningStar at Bear Creek, we strongly believe food is a healing medicine unlike any other and is also one of the great joys of living, especially when enjoyed in community.

We invite you to visit our website to learn more about our holistic approach to memory care. Our community offers 48 suites in an array of configurations including spacious studios, and one and two-bedroom suites. We also provide all of the amenities and services needed to ensure the comfort, safety and wellbeing of our residents.

MorningStar at Bear Creek brings a unique vision to senior living with our mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. We are dedicated to creating a true home for residents within an ideal setting and invite you to schedule a tour to see the best assisted living dementia care in Colorado Springs. ​

​As some of the more severe symptoms of Alzheimer’s are now associated to poor overall health, researchers stress the importance of maintaining healthy habits to help reduce symptoms of the disease. They say that care should include getting the proper exercise, and eating a healthy diet as well as identifying and managing other medical conditions.

Studies show that “light exercise and walking appear to reduce wandering, aggression and agitation.” Additionally getting the daily exercise appropriate to the person’s abilities also seems to help alleviate other problem behaviors.

A person’s hearing and vision should be regularly tested and the appropriate steps taken to deal with any problems found. They should also be routinely seen by their primary care physician along with visits to specialists to address specific needs.

Eating problems are another common issue affecting those with Alzheimer’s and can put a person at risk for weight loss, dehydration and malnutrition. For many the process of eating becomes more and more challenging, and they may no longer know how to use a fork or knife. The progression of the disease can cause “nerve cell death that eventually steals the ability to recognize thirst or hunger.”

As one of the area’s foremost senior living facilities, MorningStar of Billings offers independent and assisted living along with compassionate, professional memory care. In our memory care Reflections Neighborhood, we understand that dining is as much about community as it is about nutrition, which is why our staff and residents eat together. Also out of respect for our residents’ sometime compromised abilities at the table, we serve finger foods, texture-modified diets (mechanical soft and puréed, thickened liquids), and easy-to-recognize balanced meals that taste as good as they look. Please visit our website to learn more about our beautiful, loving community that is a true home for our residents.

MorningStar Senior Living of Billings represents the finest in senior living with our unique mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents. Please set up an appointment to experience firsthand one of the area’s best senior living facilities.

At MorningStar at Bear Creek, we know a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia can be traumatizing for a family, which is why we are here to help. Under the guidance of our extraordinary leadership team, we proudly provide assisted living for dementia residents suffering from Alzheimer’s and other memory impairment.

Right from the top, our Executive Director, Susan Morris, sets a standard of care that cannot be matched by other assisted living communities. Her love and compassion for seniors began with her loving grandmother and grandfather. “They taught me to appreciate the simple things in life, respect my elders, and serve God whole-heartedly.” When she began a career in senior living she found many of the answers to her questions from years earlier when her maternal grandmother lived with Alzheimer’s disease. Why MorningStar? “I chose to serve at MorningStar because of its mission, core values, and foundational belief in honoring God.”

Jason Shannon, our Wellness Director, learned his passion for caring early on in life. The first senior he ever loved was his great-grandmother Carol. “She wasthe sweetest woman I ever met and taught me much about our family ancestry. I am the person I am today because of the things she instilled.” He chose MorningStar because of the way they truly care for residents like family.

Serving as our Director, Community Relations, Lisa Robinson-Kerr began bonding with seniors as a child. Many of the life choices she has made were influenced by the stories her grandfather lovingly passed on to her. As for MorningStar: “The warmth of the MorningStar family is first felt in the interview process, and continues in the way residents and team members are treated.”

At MorningStar at Bear Creek, we offer 48 secure suites in configurations including studio and one and two-bedroom floor plans along with all of the services and amenities to ensure your loved one the best care. Please visit our website to learn more.​MorningStar at Bear Creek brings a unique vision to senior living with our mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. We are dedicated to creating a true home within an ideal setting and invite you to schedule a tour to see firsthand the best assisted living for dementia residents in Colorado Springs.

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MorningStar Senior Living’s distinct mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options. Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling to serve.